Gauge plate construction



June 11, 193s.- J. FOLK 2,004,603

GAUGE PLATE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 11, 1932 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 11, 1935. J. FOLK GAUGE PLATE CONSTRUCTION Filed 001:. 11, 19 32 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 11, 1935. FOLK 2,004, 03

' GAUGE PLATE CONSTRUCTION? I Filed Oct. 11, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 11, 1935 GAUGE PLATE CONSTRUCTION.

Joseph Folk, La Porte, Ind, assignor to U. S.

Slicing Machine Company, corporation of Indiana La Porte, vInd., a

Application October 11, 1932; SerialNo. 637,246-

18'Claims. (01.146-102) .The present invention relates to slicing machines and one of the objects of this invention is to provide a gauge plate which gauges the thickness of the slices to be cut and is so mount- .ed as to be movable out of operative position to a position in which the same may be readily cleaned. More specifically, this mounting is such that the ordinaryadjusting knob which is used to adjust the'position of the gauge plate -for various slice thicknesses can be also used to move thegauge plate to an inoperative position clear. of the knife to permit cleaning thereof;

Another object of this: invention resides in providing means for mounting'the gauge plate insuch a manner that there is. no substantial interference with the movement of the .slices onto the slice receiving plate. In order to accomplish this result, the gauge plate is so mounted that it does notoverhang the slice receiving plate more than is necessary. The adjusting means for the gauge plate is also arranged on the same side of the. cutting plane of theknife as the substance support.

Other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter as the. description thereofproceeds, the novel'features, arrangements and combinations being clearly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings? Fig. l is a side elevational View. of-a: slicing sents the base of a slicing machine and H a: knife bracketprovidedwitha bearing Him the spindle of a slicing knife I3. The slicing knife is driven" by means of gearing within the knife bracket l I actuated bya motor within the raised portion l4 on the base 19; The carriage l5;provided with a handle l6:is reciprocated on guides Hand .18' for movement in a plane parallelto the cutting plane of the knife I3.

guides: 2flfor movement toward and-.from the 1 cutting plane .of the: knife and. isspro-vided :With

A. suitable clamp I9 is slidably mounted on the.

prongs. 2 i on the forward face thereof and addie tional prongs 22 on .thelower face thereof :either of' which of said prongs; can be brought intoengagement with the substance. The; prongs 2| are adapted. to engage the rear-endlofthez substance for feeding short ends. ofrthesubstance toward the cutting. planeof the; knife, and. the prongs '22 :are adaptedto. .engagethertop. of the substance-for feeding .the sametoward. the cutting plane of the knife. 'The :guidestZUw are connected to aubearing 23zwhich slides on a rod 24 beneath the substance: supporting sur.- face of the: carriage. I5'so that the .guides 20. and clamp l9- canibe fed toward ithe i cutting plane of the knife. A spring 25tengages-the. bearing 23am urges the sameinaidirectiori T toward the cutting plane of"the'knifesagainst' thegauge plate" which willzhereinafter be de-- described. This part of my. invention-=is:describedmore in detail in -my co-pendingyap plicatiomserial No. fi33g594'filed' on thel'lthday of-S'eptember, 1932. As far as 'the present-invention isconcerned; the clamp-may be-fed for-'- ward manually as bymeans of 5 an operating, handle suchas 26.

The carriage'is'rnanually reciprocated and a pressure, whether manual or spring pressure, is applied to the" clamp l9 in the direction towardthe cutting plane of the knife to feed' the same against the gauge'plate 21; the slice engaging surface 28 of which' is'adapted to be positioned the desired distancefrom thecutting plane of the knife I3 so that when the carriage l5' is moved past'the knife, a slice of predetermined thickness is formed. As is most clearlydllustrated in Fig. 3; thegauge'plateyi'l has a rod 29 secured thereto by means of. a cross-16111.30" and this rod 29 passes through suitable bearings. 3! formed integrally. with the base l0. A'pin 32 is press-fitted into an opening ,in the base. Ill; and has a cylindrical head. 33 thereon which is adapteclto be received within the. opening. 34 formed in'the gauge plate 2]. Thus the. gauge plate .21. can be movedtoward and. from the frame. I 5. with. the rod .29: and. thev pin 32- acting as guides -for-g uiding.its...movement.

The rod..29 is provided with a threaded portion 35 and a set-screwtthas anunthreadedpohtion- .31 extending into the thread. of. the thread-.-, ed portion-35; Thescrew 36..extends..through a feed-nut -38 which is" arranged in :aconvenient positionat: one-side of the baselzlfl The-shut is provided with a.- zband: 39 which extends -pe-; ripherally; about the nut 3&.and:is provided withtionof the base as indicated in Fig. 6. A Washer 45 arranged within the recess 46 in the nut 38" is secured to the end of the rod 29 by means of a screw 41 and prevents separation of the nut from the rod 29.

The gauge plate is shownat its extreme left' hand position in Fig. 3 and in this position is farthest from the cutting plane of the knife. Upon rotation of the nut 38 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right in Fig. 3, the unthreaded portion 31 of the screw travels in the thread of the threaded portion 35 and moves the rod 29 to the right against the action of the spring 40. A suitable arrow or indicating line 48 formed on the frame of the machine, as is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, cooperates with the annular graduated band 39 to indicate the distance which the gauge plate is from the cutting plane of the knife and the thickness of the slice to be cut.

Adjacent the opening 34 'on the gauge plate there is formed a ledge 49" above the head 33 on the pin 32 and. this rests on the head 33 even after the head 33 is fully retracted-from the opening 34, the engaging surface of the ledge forming a continuation of the adjacent surface of the opening 34. Therefore, when the gauge plate is in the position shown in Fig. 3, and also in Figs. 4 and 5, the gauge plate is still guided at two points but can have a counter-:clockwise movement, as viewed in Fig. 4, about the axis of the rod 29 as a center, or in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The gauge plate can haveapproximately 90 of movement and is limited in this movement by the set-screw 42 which comes into engagement with the portion 50 of the base as indicated by the dotted line position of the setscrew 42 in Fig. 6.- The full line position of -the set-screw 42 shown in Fig. 6 indicates the normal position thereof when the gauge plate is inoperative position. While the gauge plate is in a position away from the cutting plane of the knife, the same may be cleaned without endangering the operator as'would be the case if the gauge plate had to be cleaned while in operative position.

I Not only. is-the gauge plate. movable to an inoperative position but it can be moved to this position 'merely by operating the nut 38. This is due to the fact that the washer 45 abuts against the bottom of the recess 46 when the gaugeplate is in the position shown in Fig.

3 with the head 33 of therpin 32 free of the opening 34. As the operator is moving the nut in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the right in Fig. 3 to move the gauge plate to its extreme left-hand position shown in that figure, the continued movement of the nut after the gauge plate reachesthe position shown in Fig. 3 causes thescrew 36 tobind in the threaded portion 35 of the rod 29 and causes the rod to rotate with the nut 38. The gauge plate,

thereforegcan be completely retracted to an 75' inoperative position by one hand of the operator and without the necessity of placing the other hand anywhere near the cutting plane of the knife. This movement is also caused by the same means which gauges the thickness of the slices. When it is desired to move the gauge plate back into an operative position, a clockwise movement of the nut 38 will move the gauge plate into that position from an inoperative position since there is sufficient frictional force which prevents the rod 29 from moving relative to the screw 31 while the gauge plate is being moved into operative position.

It also will be noted that the gauge plate does not form any material obstruction on the side of the slicing knife to which the slices are deflected as the machine is operated. The operator, therefore, can reach in past the gauge plate and catch the slices as they are deflected by meansof the deflector 5| and deposit them on a slicereceiving tray 52 carried by a bracket 53. Since the operator is standing at the front of the machine where he can operate the carriage l5 with one hand, it is very highly desirable that his view of the slice as it is being deflected be not obstructed by the gauge plate for if his view is obstructed, he cannot readily grasp the slice being deflected and deposit it properly on the tray 52 while standing in the best position for operating the carriage |5. The gauge plate also has an extension 54 which extends into close proximity with the circular guide 55 which is arranged over the cutting edge of the knife to the rear and above the same. With this arrangement, the knife is substantially guarded throughout its entire periphery during the slicing operation and while the gauge plate is in operative position, thereby protecting the operator. When the slicing machine is not in use, the gauge plate can be moved so that its substance engaging surface is right in the cutting plane of the knife and while the gauge plate is in this position, it is practically impossible knife, a gauge plate slidably mounted on said support with one edge thereof near the edge of said knife when in operative position, micrometer control means for'actuating said gauge plate rectilinearly in a direction away from the cutting plane ofisaid knife'to move the substance engaging surface thereof through successive parallel positions, said control means being operable through variable increments of movement whereby to position said gauge plate in various gauging positions with respect to the knife, said gauge plate being also movable in a plane parallel to its'substance engaging portion when the gauge plate reaches a predetermined position of rectilinear adjustment, and means for preventing said last mentioned movement of said gauge plate until the same reaches said position.

2. A slicing machine comprising a support, a

gauge plate slidably mounted on said support, an

Iii

actuating :i-mernber for: sliding said gauge plate along ssaid-f. supper-1a, said" actuating member. beings-also: operative to move said 1 gauge plate in: an. plane perpendicular to the 1 directionof itsrslidingmovement to' an; inoperative. position at which the same-may. be readily: cleaned on continued actuation:of said-i'actuating mem ber-innth'e'same direction as .when moving: said gauge "plate along: said support.

3: Inatslicing machine, the'combination with a e slicing: knife and a substance support movable relative to each other, a guageplate having the substance engaging? portion thereof arranged substantially parallel to the cutting plane of" said knifega slidable mounting for said gauge plate for? moving said:- gauge plate to various positions parallel toth'e cuttingplaneiofsaid knife and at varying distances-therefrom, a portion of said slidablemounting normally preventing move+ ment of said gauge plate "in a direction parallel to=the cutting plane of said: knife in a plurality ofwthe'positions of adjustment thereof, said portion of: saidslidable' mounting which normally preventsmovementin a-planeparallel to. the cutting! :pia'ne being out of operative position relative: to: said gauge plate 'when said gauge plate reaches a predeterminedv position of ad justmenh whereby'said' gauge plate is thereafter movable in :a- :plane parallel to the cutting plane of saidknife'to an inoperative position for cleaning-q purposes or the like, micrometer control means operable through various increments of movement: for movingsaid 'slidable' mounting, and graduated means for indicating :the' position ofsaid micrometer 5 means.

of.said-rod, said--last mentioned means comprising, apin on said frame extending" parallel r to said rrod and having a: portion thereof-= relatively; 'slidablewithin an opening in said' gauge plate-while said=gauget plate is being moved through. certain: positions of' adjustment but being rendered. inoperative Whensaid gauge. anotherioft saidtparallel positions; whereby said pinis ':out ofwsaidopening, whereby. saids'gauge plate can: be moved about the"axis'ofsaid rodasa--pivot-:whensaid-gauge plate is moved tosaid' lastmentioned: position of adjustment.

5.: A" slicing. machine comprising a frame having a bearing. thereon, arod 1 slidable" in: said" bearing 1 and rotatable *with: respect thereto, a

.-,- gauges plate-securedto said.:rod,-said rod-'ex tending beyond both ends of said bearing; said gauge plate bein'g secured :to one projecting end of isaidtrodyand 1a feed-nut operatively. connect ed to the opposite end of said rod, the rotation of said feed-nut causingl said rodrto: be moved longitudinally of its -bearing 'and -havinga auto= matic self docking-ymeans f or looking the-longitudinal feeding of said rod at a-rpredetermined positiomof said. gauge plate so that additional movement of said feed-nut" will-rotate said rod and move said-gauge plate in-asplane:perpen-'- d-icular to the axis of: said rod;

6; A slicingPmachine comprising a-frame hav-' ing a bearing: thereon, a rod sli'dable: in' said' bearing;- andarotatablewwith respect thereto; a

gauge plateisecuredto said rod; said rod :extendaing :beyond. .b'oth ends'of said bearing; said gauge?v platebeing securedto; one: projectingend "of said rod," :a: feed-nut operativelyw connected toi the opposite end: 0f said; rod,'atherotation' of. said-.feed-nut' causing said rod' to be moved-lone. gitudinally --of itsbearing and having: automatic? self-locking means for. locking the longitudinal feeding of said rod at -a--predetermined-Jposition..

ofasaid gauge plate so that additional"movement-1'5 ofsaidifeed-nut willrotate said. rod-and" move" jection on said rodand nut :respectively'whereby when said abutmentmoves against said feed nut and is limited in its movement" with respectthereto, said" projection binds in the thread on saidrodr and the friction therebet-we'en permits: the operator to rotate th'e'rodvby: rotating: the" feed-nut: 8. In a slicing: machine, the combination with" aslicing knife, of a substance support movable v relative thereto, a gauge .plate against which the substance on. said substance support is moved to determine the thickness of the-slice to'be cut, a rod uponwhich said gauge plate-is mounted,

y 25", tion, and a screw thread and cooperating pro a bearing for said'rod, said bearing and rod-ex tendingin a direction at a substantial angle to the cutting plane of. saidknife, and saidrrod being slidable' longitudinally of said bearing; whereby to position said gauge plate-in successive parallel positions; means'for'normallypre= venting rotationv of said gauge plate: about the axis of said rod when said gauge plate is in -a= number of said parallel lpositions; micrometer control means operable to-various positions for actuating said rod in a direction longitudinallyof its axis to move-saidgauge plate to-any-of; said parallel" positions =inone of" which said means which normally prevents rotation of said gauge plate about-the axis ofxsaid rod occupiesan inoperative position with respect to said? gauge plate,- whereby said-gauge plate can; be moved ina plane substantially perpendic'ular'tothe axis of said rod, and graduated means-for indicating the positionof said'micrometer control' means.

9i In a slicing machine, the-"combination with" a-slicing knife, of a substance supportmovable relative thereto, a gauge"plate'against which the substance on said substance'support is'inoved'to' determine the thickness of theslice tob'e'cut, a mounting for said gauge plate for" constraining: the movement of said igauge. plate. through successive positions parallel to the cutting:.-plane1ofsaid knife and for holding said gaugeplate against movement parallel to the cuttin'g plane of said knife until said gauge plate reaches a redetermined-J position of adjustment iwwhich the: means which constrains the movement of" said:- gauge' plate in a direction parallel to' -the cutting plane- -of said; knife occu-pies a position with respect to said gauge plate such that it is inoperative to prevent movement ofsaid gauge plate in a direction parallel to the cutting plane of said knife, whereby said gauge plate is normallyconstrained :to move through successive positions parallel to the cutting plane of said knifevand is prevented from movement in a direction' parallel to the cutting plane of said knife but is permitted at a predetermined position to have movementin'said last mentioned direction so that it can be moved to 'a position remote from its operative position for cleaning purposes, and screw feed means for feeding said gauge plate through said successive positions.

10. A slicing machinecomprising a frame, a slicing knife mounted in fixed relation to said frame, a gauge plate mounted on said frame by means of a slidable and rotatable connection therewith, the slidable connection permitting movement of said gauge plate through successive positions substantially parallel with the cutting plane of said knife and said rotative connection being such as to permit, when not otherwise restrained, movement of said gauge plate, in a plane parallel to the cutting plane of said knife, actuating means andconnections between said actuating means "and said gauge plate for sliding said gauge plate along said frame, means to' indicate the position of said actuating means, and means normally operative to prevent rotation of said gauge plate in a plane parallel to said cutting plane, while said gauge plate is in any one of a number of parallel positions, but being inoperative when said gauge plate is at another of said parallel positions, whereby said gauge plate may be rotated in a plane parallel to the cutting plane of said knife to a position remote from the cutting edge of said knife.

-11". A slicing machine comprising a frame, a slicing knife mounted in fixed relation to said frame, a gauge plate mounted on said frame by means of a slidable and rotatable connection therewith, the slidable connection permitting movement of said gauge plate through successive positions substantially parallel with the cutting plane of said knife and said rotative connection being such as to permit, when not otherwise restrained, movement of said gauge plate in a plane parallel to the cutting plane of said knife, means for sliding said gauge plate along said frame, and means normally operative to prevent rotation of said gauge plate in a plane parallel to said cutting plane, while said gauge plate is in any one of a number of parallel positions, but

being inoperative when said gauge plate is at another of said parallel positions, whereby said gauge'plate may be rotated in a plane parallel to the cutting plane of said knife to a position remote from the cutting edge of said knife, said means comprising a pin slidable in an opening in said gauge plate, the axis of the opening being eccentric with respect to the center of pivotal movement of said gauge plate, and said pin being rendered inoperative when said gauge plate is moved to another position of adjustment in which said pin is out of said opening, at which latter position of adjustment of said gauge plate, said gauge plate can be rotated about its pivotal center.

12. A slicing machine comprising a frame having a bearing therein, of a slicing knife, a gauge plate having the operative surface thereof substantially parallel to the cutting plane of said knife, a rod extending at a substantial angle to the cutting plane of said knife and secured to said gauge plate, said rod being mounted for sliding-and rotating movement-in said bearing, control means movable in a given manner andthrough given limits of movement. for'moving said rod longitudinally of said bearing, and

means normally preventing rotation of said rod in said "bearing except when said gauge plate is moved to a predetermined position of adjustment in the direction of the lengthof said rod,

said control means being movable in thesame manner but through greater limits of movement toirotate said rod.

13. In a slicing machine, the combination with a" frame, of a slicing knife mounted in substantially fixed relation with respect to said frame, said frame having a bearing therein extending substantiallyperpendicular to the cutting plane of said knife, a rod rotatably and slidably mount-- ed in said bearing,-a"gauge plate'secured to said rod for movement therewith, a second rodse cured to said frame and having a slidable con-' nectionwith said gauge plate for guiding saidgauge plateas the same'is moved with said rod and for preventing rotation of said gauge plate about the axis of said rod in'most'of the positionsof said gauge plate, but being inoperative in one: position of said gauge plate for preventing rotationof said gauge plate'about said axis in one direction due to the movement of said gauge plate to a position in which a portion of said slidable connection is renderedinoperative.

. 14. In a slicing machine, the combination with a frame having a'bearing therein, a rod rotatable and slidable in said'bearing, a second rod secured to said'frame having a portion thereof slidable within a bearingon said gauge plate, which bearing embraces said portion sufiiciently to prevent movement of saidgauge plate transversely to said second. rod, in a multlplicityof positions of said gauge plate, said gauge plate being movable to a position in which said"por-- 15. A slicing machine comprising a frame having a bearing thereon, a rod slidable in said bearing and rotatable with respect thereto, a gauge plate carried: by said rod, means'for advancing said rod in the direction of its length, and means operable upon longitudinal movement of said rod to a predetermined position for locking said advancing means to said rod to prevent relative rotation therebetween, whereby continued motion of said advancing means causesrotativemovement of said rod and said gauge plate.

16. 'A device as set forth in claim 15 which includes in addition, means for positively restraining rotative movement of said gauge plate in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said rod substantially until the said rod reaches the position at which said advancing means is locked in position with respect to said rod.

17. A slicing machine comprising a frame having a bearing thereon, a rod slidable in said bearing and rotatable with respect'thereto, a gauge plate carried by said rod, means for ad vancing said rod in the direction of its length, and means operable upon longitudinal movement of said rod to a predetermined position for locking said advancing means to said rod to prevent relative rotation therebetween, whereby continued motion of said advancin means causes rotative movement of said rod and said gauge plate, said means for locking said advancing means to said rod comprising an abutment on said rod for engaging said advancing means, and a cam engaging means on said advancing means for forcing said advancing means firmly against said abutment whereby continued movement of said advancing means causes said rod to rotate therewith.

18. A slicing machine comprising a frame member, a gauge plate member, a rod secured to said gauge plate member and rotatable and slidable within a bearing on said frame, means for moving said rod longitudinally of said bearing, and means normally preventing rotation of said gauge plate member about the axis of said rod as a pivot except when said gauge plate member is moved to a predetermined position of adjustment in the direction of the length of said rod, said last mentioned means comprising a pin relatively positioned between the gauge plate member and the frame member extending parallel to said rod and having a portion thereof relatively slidable within an opening in one of said members while said gauge plate member is a being moved through certain positions of adjustment but being rendered inoperative when said gauge plate member moves to another position in which said pin is out of said opening, whereby said gauge plate member can be moved about the axis of said rod as a pivot when said gauge plate member is moved to said last mentioned position of adjustment.

JOSEPH FOLK. 

